Oval Beach

Framed by rolling dunes, Oval Beach in Saugatuck holds the distinction of being one of Michigan’s most well-known stretches of shoreline. Although there is ample parking, some choose to leave their car in downtown Saugatuck, take the hand-cranked Saugatuck Chain Ferry across the Kalamazoo River and hike about 25 minutes on the Mount Baldhead Trail.

Just over half a mile long, the trail climbs Mount Baldhead via stairs built into the sand dune. It’s a tough hike with about 300 stairs each way, but long stretches of sandy beach wait at the end. The top of the dune is a popular spot to catch a sunset. 

Originally one of three logging villages in the area, Saugatuck’s fortunes changed when the lumber used to build ships and rebuild Chicago after it was destroyed by fire in 1871 ran out. The turn of the 20th century brought steamships filled with tourists from Chicago, located just 93 miles across Lake Michigan. Saugatuck and the nearby village of Douglas were reinvented by those seeking a connection to arts and culture. In 1910, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago founded Ox-Bow on a Saugatuck lagoon, and that art tradition endures with Ox-Bow offering classes in paper making, glass blowing and sculpture.

This artistic sensibility is complemented by marinas, a vibrant food scene, a plethora of boutiques and green spaces. Although it has a year-round population of around 900, Saugatuck annually welcomes 1 million visitors. Excursion boats have carried passengers down the Kalamazoo River, past the piers and out onto Lake Michigan for over 150 years. The sternwheeler paddleboat Star of Saugatuck re-creates those journeys, while Sailing Saugatuck offers two-hour or sunset cruises aboard a 65-foot, two-masted tall ship. Oval Beach: 690 Perryman St., Saugatuck, Michigan 49453; For more information about Saugatuck, visit saugatuck.com.